Art, Architecture & Ancient Cities: A Cultural Sabbatical Through Europe

Heading south, jump off the train at Bologna, the food capital of Italy. Perfect your pasta and pizza in private lessons with a local expert who will teach you the art of traditional Italian cooking - a sure fire way to impress friends and family back at home when you return from your cultural sabbatical.

Enjoy the views from your window as the train meanders through the Italian countryside, until you reach your next stop; Florence. Delve into the Uffizi Gallery's collection with a private art historian as your guide. Stroll past the queues to see the Duomo and then head south of the river, to meet local artisans, soaking up the local culture on your luxury sabbatical.

Arriving in Rome, drop your bags and head straight for the Vatican City. You can explore the seat of the Catholic church, which is also the smallest city in the world. You can experience the Vatican after hours, or behind-the-scenes with the Swiss Guards, depending on personal preference.

Your cultural sabbatical will see you journeying to Naples to explore Italy's most unlikely masterpiece; with its raw energy and inimitable elegance, Naples is an Italian city unlike any other (plus, if you needed any more convincing, it's the place where pizza was invented!). Explore the hidden parts of the city on a private tour with a guide (who can also help you find the best places for a slice or ten), before you embark on a day trip to Pompeii to see the destructive beauty of Mt Vesuvius; this is a day for reflection and wonder at the beauty of Roman architecture and the power of mother nature.

After flying to the island of Sicily spend the next eight days of your luxury cultural sabbatical exploring the island on a road trip round the south-eastern coast. Your road trip will include all of the delights of Sicily, including an expert-guided walking tour of Agrigento; a jaunt around Ragusa and Modica, two of the island's loveliest baroque town;, an authentic cookery course; and a 4X4 tour of Mount Etna and Alcantara Gorges - this is a trip for the memory books.

From Sicily you'll travel to the diverse and beautiful island of Malta. Packing in a glorious variety of landscapes, culture and history, marvel at this small but mighty set of islands and all of their wonders over the next four days. Take a tour of the fascinating prehistoric caves at Ghar Dalam and the Tarxerian Temples before a boat tour of the beautiful Blue Grotto.

As a centre for trade throughout history, Malta and it's sister islands of Gozo and Comino, have an intriguing culture unlike anywhere else. Taste the flavours of Italy alongside Arabic spices, tuck into fresh seafood with a glass of Maltese wine, and make sure to leave space for a cheeseboard of local cheese, condiments and cured meats come supper.

After flying into Athens and enjoying a city break in this historic city, you will travel to Kalamata (make plenty of time to sample the region's incredible food) and then onto Levidi. The picturesque and historic city of Levidi will be the site for your ATV off-roading tour; expect a rush of adrenaline and awe, especially when you get to the Kapsia Cave, with its breath-taking stalactites and stalagmites.

Next, test your nerve with a guided hike of the Lousios Gorge and rafting down the Lousios River. Then, once you're done with adventure, it's time for a change of pace as you head north-east to Mycenae for a behind-the-scenes tour with an archaeological expert to learn about the rich history of this important ancient site. Make sure you ask all of your questions and soak up every inch of culture as your sabbatical comes to an end.